DESCRIPTION: This week, Erin and Ryan mention a certain Gen Con panel, recap some games that hit the table recently, ponder over the latest Monopoly hype, talk about the progress made (and still needed to go) with diversity in gaming, and then discuss at length outside influences that affect trends within the gaming industry.

Monopoly Gamer is a new Nintendo-themed version of Monopoly that was just released, and is being sold exclusively through GameStop for the first month. There was also a bunch of social chatter about it immediately upon release. We chat about both the game and the oddly-sudden hype around it.

A recent article appeared titled “A Seat at the Table: Board Gaming is for Us Too“, reflects on board gaming as a member of a minority group, both in terms of why African-American and Latino youths often avoid board games over video games and how even though board gaming is making overtures towards progress of diversity and inclusion, it still has a ways to go from an outside perspective.

FEATURED TOPIC – (28:44):

Video games, pop culture, and, more recently, live action games/activities are just a few examples of areas that have had a huge impact on the board game industry. Which had us wondering: where exactly do gaming trends come from outside the traditional mold of publishers and designers. We look at a few areas, such as:

Video games

Live action activities such as escape rooms

The impact of influencers

The relationship between small but engaged communities with the ability to control game designs and publications

And of course, society as a whole

PLUGS – (57:06):

We’re doing a Gen Con panel! If you’re going, come check out Cardboard Quills: A Written Reviewer Roundtable – a written reviewer Q&A. (If you can’t make it, feel free to still leave a question you’d like asked and we can see if we can get it answered!)

We’re raffling off a copy of Rolling America (plus a surprise!) to a lucky Patreon backer. Consider donating today!